Quantitative analysis of motion artifacts in high-pitch dual-source computed tomography of the thorax.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to objectively analyze motion artifacts on thoracic computed tomography (CT) with dual-source high-pitch and single-source techniques when using a no-breath-hold technique to examine patients who have difficulty complying with breath-holding instructions.

Materials And Methods: A total of 120 patients who received CT of the thorax with a free-breathing technique in single-source (16 slices and 128 slices; pitch = 1.2) and dual-source (pitch = 3.0) manners were evaluated retrospectively. In each of the 3 study groups, movements of the diaphragm and pulsations of the aortic root and main pulmonary artery were analyzed for their number and severity (blurred distance).

Results: No motion artifacts of the diaphragm were identified using a pitch of 3.0 (compared with n = 14 for single-source CT using 128 slices and n = 24 using 16-slice CT). In single-source examinations, the severity of artifacts was similar between 128-slice CT and 16-slice CT: blurring distance of the lung parenchyma due to diaphragm movements was 14 versus 16 mm, and double contours of the aorta were measured as 8 and 9 mm, respectively.

Conclusions: A high-pitch, dual-source mode is potentially advantageous for evaluating the lung parenchyma and vascular structures in patients who have difficulty complying with breath-holding instructions. Increasing from 16 to 128 slices can significantly reduce the number and severity of motion artifacts.